Method for heat recovery and utilization by use of chemical energy of synthesis and decomposition of methyl formate

Abstract

There are herein disclosed a method for heat recovery and heat utilization by the use of chemical energy which comprises the steps of doing the heat recovery by the following formula (I), and doing the heat utilization by the following formula (I'): HCOOCH.sub.3 .fwdarw.CH.sub.3 OH+CO (I) CH.sub.3 OH+CO.fwdarw.HCOOCH.sub.3 (I') the reaction of the formula (I') being carried out in the presence of an alkali fluoride and zinc oxide. According to the present invention, steam or hot water can be generated at a high temperature of 100.degree. C. or more by the use of a factory waste heat or a river water at a low temperature of 100.degree. C. or less as a heat source from which heat has scarcely been utilized so far, and the thus generated steam or hot water can effectively be used as a heat source or be used in an air conditioner. The catalyst which comprises the alkali fluoride and zinc oxide is used for preparing methyl formate or CO gas according to the formula (I) or (I').

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.